Beetles under the hammer

By tnichols

A COLLECTION of South American beetles dating from the time of Charles Darwin are to go under the hammer in Plymouth.

The collection of 600 beetles – including Harlequin Longhorn beetles and a Rhinoceros beetle – has been in the same city family for around 60 years after it was bought in a Welsh antique shop.

Over the years it has also been loaned out to a museum.

During Plymouth Auction Rooms' next sale at its Cattedown site on Saturday February 14, the lot is being offered for £400 to £600.

At the same sale, auctioneer Paul Keen is also planning to sell an historic Irish medal.

Mr Keen noticed the medal on a routine visit to a house in Peverell.

During the visit he spotted an oval gold pendant in among various jewellery.

On closer inspection he discovered the medal was an Irish Militia medal from the Battle of Drumsna Bridge 1795.

An inscription on the medal reads: "Presented to Sergeant White for his gallant conduct on 24th April 1795 in defending the bridge at Drumsna and defeating, with a small party of the Londonderry Militia, several thousand defenders".

In 1793 about 3600 armed defenders from Kilmore, Aughrim, and Kilglass parishes assembled at Kilmore and marched north to take over Drumsna and its bridge over the Shannon.

On the way they stormed Charlestown House, then occupied by a Colonel King.

They were met and defeated by a well-led, disciplined company of the Derry Militia in what became known as The Fight at Drumsna Bridge.

Other items in the auction include rare stamps, postcards and militaria.

Two rare gold specimen sets are also up for sale. They were last seen on the market in 1904 and feature rare proof gold coins including five pounds and two pounds gold coins.

The sets are part of a section of coins on offer and carry guides of £3,000 to £5,000 each.

To view the lots visit: www.plymouthauctions.co.uk.